Hen-marker



H. A. CALMUS.

HEN MARKER.

APPucAUoN man MAR. is, 1920.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920. y

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support.

uNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY A. CALMUS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

EEN-MARKER.

Specification o'f Letters Patent.' Patnted Auo' 17, 1920 Application ledMarch 16, 1920. Serial No. 366,182.

laying hens so that the same may bepreadilyV distinguished from broodersmt. e., hens that are disposed to set. To the attainment of the foregoing, the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed. ln the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel marking apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking downwardly.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section illustrative ofv the dye receptacle, the valve for controlling the discharge thereof, and the arrangement of the valve stem relatively to the thrust rod for opening the valve.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all' of the views of the drawings.

Among other velements my novel apparatus comprises an upright frame bar 1 adapted to be connected in fixed relation to the wall of a coop, or any other appropriate Fixed to and reaching forwardly froln the frame bar 1 is a platform bar 2.

Aalso fixed to and reaching forwardly from the bar 1 is an overhanging arm 3 that is disposed above the platform bar 2 about the proportional distance illustrated, and is suitably braced as shown. The said bars 1, 2 and 3, constitute the main frame of my novel apparatus, and it will be noticed that the platform bar 2 is also appropriately braced. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the bracing of the bar 2 and the overhanging -arm 3 is effected through the medium of diagonal braces 4 disposed at opposite sides of the platform bar 2 and the overhanging arm 3, respectively.

At 5 are standards fixed to and rising from the platform bar 2 at an intermediate point in the length thereof.

)Fulcrumed at an intermediate point in its length between the standards 5, is a vertically swinging lever Gon the outer arm of which is carried a nest 7.

Inter-posed between the platform bar 2 and the -outer arm of the lever G is a spring S, andbearing on the inner end portion of the lever` G and movable vertically between the braces 4 is a vertical thrust rod 9, theV upper end portion of lwhich is tapered, as indicated by 10. y y

Suitably supported around and in spaced relation to the nest 7 is a stationary guard 11. This guard 11 has for its function to prevent any d-epression whatsoever of the outer arm of the lever 6 until the hen is disposed in the nest 7.

Carried on the outer portion of the overhanging arm 3 is a dye receptacle 12 having a discharge 13 normally closed by a valve 1li that is normally held to its seat through the medium of a spring 15 opposed to its stem 16. The rear end of the said stem'is opposed to the tapered or beveled upper portion 10 of the thrust rod 9.

In the practical operation of my novel apparatus it will be manifest that the weight of the hen in the nest 7 will depress the outer arm of the lever G, and accordingly will raise the inner arm of said lever and the thrust rod 9. ln consequence of this, the valve 14 will be moved outwardly so as to bring about the dropping of a sufficient quantity-of dye on the back of the hen in the nest to adequately mark ther hen. In this connection it will be noticed that when the valve 14 is thrust outwardly, its port 17 will be momentarily registered with the discharge of the receptacle 12, and that immediately afterward the discharge 13 will be closed by the valve. From this it follows that on the operation of they valve, only a drop or two of the dye will be deposited on the back of the hen, though sufficient to adequately mark the hen. ward movement and also after the rearward movement of the valve to restore the same to its normal position, the discharge 13 ofV the receptacle 12 will be closed to prevent waste of the dye or marking material employed.

Below the registration point of the ports After the for- 17 and'lB, the'arm carries a conduit or spout 18 for the downward passage of the dye.

Having described my invention, what I claimV and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A hen marking apparatus comprising an upright frame bar, a platform bar fixed to and reaching forwardly from the lower portion of the upright bar, an overhanging arm fixed to and reaching forwardly from the upper portion of the upright bar, diagonal braces spaced apart and connected to the upright bar and the platform bar, similar braces spaced apart and fixed to the upright bar and the overhanging arm, a vertically swinging lever fulcrumed at an intermediatel point of its length above the platform bar, a nest carried by the outer arm of said lever, a spring interposed between the platform bar and the ,outer arm of the lever, a guard carried by the frame and surrounding and spaced from the nest, an upright thrust rod movable upwardly by the inner arm of the lever and guided between the braces and having a tapered upperportion, a receptacle carried by the overhanging arm in position above the nest Y and having a discharge, and a springpressed valve carriedV bythe overhanging arm and normally closing the discharge of the receptacle and operable by Vupward movement of the thrust rod to momentarily Vopenthe Vdischarge of the receptacle.

2. A hen marking apparatus comprising a frame, a lever, a nest on the outer arm of the lever and movable downwardly by thel normally closing the discharge of the re- Y ceptacle and operable by upward movement of the thrust rod to momentarily open the discharge of the receptacle. *Y

In testimony whereof Iafix mysignature.

HARVEY A. CALMUS. 

